The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-30
GRAVES CAPTURED.
The Murderer of the Game Wardens
Arrested at Oakland, Cal.
He viii be at Once Sent to This
State.
How He Probably Made the Trip
Across the Continent.

despatch from Oakland, California, an
nouncing that the authorities of that city
had arrested Calvin Graves, who murdered
the game wardens, Hill and Niles, in Wash
ington county last fall. The despatch gives
no particulars of the arrest but simply states
that the murderer is now in custody in that
city, and as soon as possible he will be taken
to Maine. 1t will be remembered that inn
mediately following the Fletcher Brook
murder, when the two game wardens were
shot dead by Graves, the murderer fled and
not word was heard from him. McFar-
land, who was in company with Graves at
the time of the murder, gave himself up
soon after. At his trial at Machias he stated
that he parted company with Graves the day
after the deed and that he had no knowledge
Whatever OF the whereabouts of the guilty
man. Graves did not tell him any of his
plans and Mcfarland could give no informa-
tion. The whereabouts of the murderer
from that day to this has been a mystery,
and it is great surprise to the people of
Washington county to learn that he is across
the continent. The opinion is expressed in
Bangor that Graves, as soon as possible after
the murder, went to the provinces and went
across the country on the Canadian Pacific
railroad.
He will be taken back and tried as soon as
possible, and his conviction with McFar-
lands testimony, is of course a foregone
conclusion.
1t is said that after Graves separated from
Mcfarland at Fletcher's house he went
home, secured set of shaving tools, wom-
ans suit and some money. He then went
into the woods, disguised himself as a wom-
an and took the next train for Bangor, pass
ing through without detection In few
weeks he was reported as being in or about
Oakland, California, and Marshal Whitney
at once sent to cousin of his who resided
there, the following description:
:, $1,000 reward is offered by the Governor of
the State Of Maine, for the arrest and appre-
tension Of Calvin p. Graves, who, on the
Sth day of November, 1886, murdered Charles
Niles and Lyman o. Hill, in Washington
County, State of Maine.
Descriptions Calvin p. Graves of Hancock.
Me-, 43 years old, 5 feet or s inches high.
weighs l6O pounds, dark complexion, full,
mixed with gray, dark blue eyes with heavy
eyebrows. When last seen he wore an old
brown 0verc0at, homespun pants and Scotch
cap The annexed photograph was taken
recently and pronounced good one. Ad-
dress all communications to L. NJ. Stillwell.
Commissioner of Fish and Game, or G. w.
Whitney, City Marshal of Bangor About
the middle of October last he was pierced in
the stomach by a hayf0rk, showing two dis
tlnct sears.
From time to time the trail was taken up
only to be lost again, but not for any length
OF time, as Graves at intervals wrote home.
The contents of these letters were examined,
so l am informed, but by whom and where
mus: remain secret Finally, Graves
stated that he, feeling secure, should settle
down, and word was at once forward to
Oakland, and the result was capture.
To Marshal Whitney and Game Warden
Allen of Bangor, is due the credit for this
neat work. Marshal Whitney has wired At
torney General Baker and the Washington
county attorney and is awaiting their action.
The sentiment in Bangor, today, is that the
last Legislature made a mistake in abolish
ing the hanging of such criminals and all
seem glad to hear of the capture.
The Commercial says: 1t is thought that
he purchased ticket here for the west. The
first that Marshal Whitney learned in re-
gard to his whereabouts was that he was in
Oakland, Cal. How the news came to him
he does not say but he knew it for fact
about two months ago. Then commenced
the fine part of the job-to catch the man.
Marshal Whitney has cousin in Oakland,
Mr.. John j. Fairbanks, and to him he sent
complete particulars of the murder,
descriptions of Graves, his clothes
and habits, with his photograph and
everything concerning him that he could
possibly obtain. Then he enclosed instruc.
tions as to how to proceed to capture him
and told Mr.. Fairbanks to leave no stone
unturned to accomplish this. The Marshal
was aware that it would be little or no use
for anybody to go from this city to attempt
to capture Graves, as he was doubtless
guarding against this. So he sent all the
points which could possibly be used in the
work to Mr.. Fairbanks, telling him to con-
suit the Oakland police authorities for aid in
any direction where he thought it might be
needed.
He has heard nothing for six weeks as to
how the matter was progressing until this
mornings despatch, but he was confident
that everything possible was being done to
catch the man. He was fully satisfied when
the despatch came. Marshal Whitney tele-
graphed Capt. Thomas this forenoon to hold
Graves until sombody from this city arrived
TO take him and has also sent to the county
attorney Of Washington county and to At
torney General Baker to prepare the neces-
sary papers for the requisition of the
murderer. These will be ready tonight and
then somebody will go out to bring him here.
Who that will be has not yet been decided,
but either City Marshal Whitney or Officer
Allen should go, as he is their prisoner
Graves has been in almost constant COM
munication with his family for weeks Here
he made a mistake for it was easy enough to
arouse the suspicious of the people in Han
cock who saw the letters 1t is said that
when Graves went through here he acted
very boldly and made good appearance in
his dress. He has played sharp game
throughout but why his sharpness did not
lead him out of this country altogether is a
question. The day after the murder before
Graves visited his home his wife said that
she thought he would go to California, so it
is said.